1The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the famine (drought). 2“Judah wilts, commerce through its gates has ground to a halt; the people sit on the parched ground; and a cry rises from Jerusalem. 3The nobles have sent their servants to the water cisterns, and found no water; they returned, confounded, with empty vessels; they covered their heads. 4Because the ground is cracked for lack of rain, the farmers are dismayed, and cover their heads. 5Even the doe deserts her fawn in the field, because there is no grass. 6And the wild donkeys stand in the high places; panting like jackals; straining their eyes, looking for grass; but find none.”

7O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, and we have often rebelled and sinned against You, send us relief for Your name’s sake. 8You are the hope of Israel, its only Savior in time of trouble. Why are You like a stranger in the land, and like a visitor who stays for a night? 9Why should You be like a man caught off guard, like a guardian that cannot save? Yet You, O LORD, are in our midst, and we are the people called by Your name; do not forsake us!

10This is the LORD’s reply to this people: “You have loved to wander from Me, and have not restrained your wander lust; therefore, the LORD rejects you; He will now remember your iniquity, and punish your sins.”

11Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the good of this people. 12When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offerings and oblations, I will not accept them; but instead, I will consume them by sword, famine, and pestilence.” 13Then I said, “Ah, LORD God! Behold, the prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not suffer from the sword, nor from famine; but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’” 14Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name; I neither sent them, nor have I commanded them, nor did I speak to them; they prophesy false visions, divinations, idolatry, and delusions of their own minds to you. 15Therefore, the LORD says this concerning these prophets that presume to prophesy in My name, when I have not sent them, saying, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ Those prophets shall perish by sword and famine. 16And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have no one to bury them – not them, their wives, sons, nor their daughters; for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

17“Therefore, speak this word to them: ‘Let the tears overflowing my (Jeremiah’s) eyes run down night and day without ceasing; for the virgin daughter - my (Jeremiah’s) people have suffered a crushing blow - a very grievous blow. 18If I go out into the field, I see those slain with the sword! And if I enter the city, I see those dying from the famine! And both the prophet and priest have gone into a land that they do not know.’”

19Have You utterly rejected Judah? Does Your soul loathe Zion? Why have You afflicted us to where there is no healing for us? We hoped for peace, and none came, for time to heal, but there was only more affliction! 20 O LORD, we acknowledge our wickedness, and the iniquity of our ancestors; for we have sinned against You. 21For Your name’s sake, do not abandon us, do not disgrace Your glorious throne; remember, and do not revoke Your covenant with us. 22Can any of the worthless idols among the nations cause rain? Or can the skies themselves give us showers? No! Only You, O LORD, our God! Therefore, we will wait upon You; for You have created all these things.